People desperate to start a family are flocking to overseas IVF clinics in search of a donor egg. This comes as Indian fertility clinics revealed a booming market in cashed up Aussies seeking overseas surrogates.

Exit International director Philip Nitschke will demonstrate emerging techniques that allow the elderly and seriously ill to achieve a peaceful death, at a workshop in Newcastle on Monday. Dr Nitschke said he was expecting an enthusiastic response to the Exit euthanasia workshop following his participation at the Newcastle Writers Festival being held at City Hall over the weekend.

Social workers are at a loss to explain why homeless people are heading to Canberra despite the approaching freezing weather. The phenomenon is being discussed among workers in sector who are seeing an influx of people arriving with no money.

Australia has boosted aid to the Solomon Islands, donating an extra $250,000 in emergency relief assistance after deadly floods. About 16 people are dead, 40 missing and an estimated 49,000 people homeless. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the money is in addition to an initial announcement of $50,000 on Friday.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott faces three years of horse trading to get his legislation through the Senate following a Western Australian poll that featured a swing of about 5 per cent against both major parties. The Greens’ Scott Ludlam and the Palmer United Party’s Dio Wang will head to Canberra, while the Coalition looks set to claim three Senate seats and Labor just one.

A possible deal to resettle Australian-bound asylum seekers in Cambodia has been heavily criticised by one of the country's longest-serving politicians who has warned against the country becoming a "dumping ground".

Hello, I’m a comedian who is here for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. I am also a Christian … and if you are still reading this you may be interested to know there is nothing directly about my faith in my act. But I’ve been asked to write about something I care about, so here goes.